Rival militia fighting claims 15 lives in Somalia's Lower Shabelle Region

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Rival militia fighting claims 15 lives in Somalia's Lower Shabelle Region

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The Lower Shabelle region of Somalia witnessed a violent confrontation between two rival clans, resulting in the loss of at least 15 lives and leaving numerous civilians injured, according to locals and officials in

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The fierce gun battle erupted on Wednesday in Yaaqbiri Weyne, about 20km from Wanla Weyn town.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The Lower Shabelle region of Somalia witnessed a violent confrontation between two rival clans, resulting in the loss of at least 15 lives and leaving numerous civilians injured, according to locals and officials in the region.

The fierce gun battle erupted on Wednesday in Yaaqbiri Weyne, about 20km from Wanla Weyn town, according to local sources.

The warring factions of Shan Alemod and Galje’el militias, both of which had received reinforcements and weaponry, are fighting over resources and territorial control in the Yaaqbiri Weyne and Leego area.

Eyewitnesses in Leego reported that the bodies of fallen militia members remained scattered in the bush for a second day, indicating the seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieving peace.

As a result, hundreds of families have been forced to flee their homes, fearing prolonged warfare. Meanwhile, injured civilians have been transported to hospitals in Mogadishu.

Authorities from the Wanla-Weyn district, located approximately 20 kilometers from the conflict zone, revealed that the clash ignited when one of the rival militias launched an attack on the town of Yaaqbiri Weyne. This move led to a fierce clash between the two opposing groups, exacerbating the already volatile situation.

Officials in Baidoa and Mogadishu have not yet commented on the deadly fighting which continued sporadicly since the end of last year.

Alarming reports now indicate that the warring militias have acquired weapons and ammunition from Somali military storage facilities in Mogadishu. These supplies were ostensibly intended for their participation in the military offensive against al-Shabaab.

Arms dealers in Mogadishu have corroborated these claims, noting a decrease in the prices of weapons and ammunition in the city’s black market due to the influx of illicitly diverted military resources.

The situation in the Lower Shabelle region remains dire, with the ongoing violence and the already dire humanitarian conditions threatening the lives and livelihoods of countless innocent civilians.